You might not think of yourself as an athlete but if you’ve got flaky skin between your toes and itchy feet then you could have athlete’s foot. This is super common in runners and other people who spend a lot of time in trainers. It’s usually quick and easy to treat but it requires a bit of effort and change of habits. There are also lots of things you can do to help prevent it too. Read on for all you need to know about athletes foot.
What causes athlete’s foot?
Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungus. Fungi live on our skin in small numbers and don’t cause any problems but sometimes they can start multiplying. The conditions they thrive in are darkness, warmth and dampness. You can see why running socks and shoes are a favourite location of theirs! The fungus causing athlete’s foot is called tinea pedis.
You can catch athlete’s foot from someone else if you have had direct skin contact with them or you are in contact with something that has touched their skin such as towels, shoes or flooring.
How do I know if I’ve got athlete’s foot?
There is a whole list of symptoms you might experience if you’ve got athlete’s foot. It can vary from person to person but it usually starts between the toes. You might have:
- Itchy feet
- Peeling skin
- Scaly skin
- Dry skin
- Reddening of the skin
- Cracked skin
- Moist skin which splits
- Skin colour changes
- Painful feet
- Blisters
Athlete’s foot can be pretty mild and just grumble away or it can give you sleepless nights with incessant itching. Over time it can spread over your feet and even get into your toenails which is harder to treat.
What else could it be if it’s not athlete’s foot?
Plenty of other conditions can give you itchy, flaky skin on your feet including eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and insect bites. If you aren’t sure then you should speak to your pharmacist or GP. Sometimes skin scrapings need to be take and sent to a lab where they’re looked at under the microscope to check for fungi.
How to get rid of athlete’s foot
It’s not likely that athlete’s foot will just clear up on its own so ignoring probably isn’t your best option. Thankfully you can get plenty of anti-fungal treatments over the counter and even some in the supermarket. It’s a good idea to chat to a pharmacist to see what might be the best option for you and to make sure there are no interactions with any other medications you are using.
Clotrimazole, terbinafine and miconazole are common anti-fungals used. They can be in cream, gel, spray, liquid or powder forms. Most are used twice a day for around seven days.
Tablet form (oral) anti-fungals can be used in severe cases or when other treatments haven’t worked. You will need a discussion with your doctor about these because treatment is often needed for several months and there are some important potential side effects you need to be aware of.
What else can I use for athlete’s foot?
- Anti-itch creams such as hydrocortisone can help but they don’t clear the infection so shouldn’t be used alone. Some anti-fungal creams have some hydrocortisone in them so speak to the pharmacist if your feet are particularly
- Tea tree oil. This might be worth a try, the evidence is mixed as to whether it will make any difference. Soak your feet in a water with a few drops of oil or apply it in a carrier oil, don’t use it neat.
- Salt water soaks. Soaking your feet in salty water is unlikely to clear the condition but it might help limit spread and stop any secondary infection. If the water is too salty it can irritate the skin and cause dryness and cracking.
- Garlic, vinegar and more. There are lots of old wives’ tales about what will help, but there’s no good evidence that they will. Most are unlikely to cause harm.
How do I stop athlete’s foot coming back?
Tinea pedis is a common and frequent problem and there’s no guarantee it won’t come back but there are lots of things you can do to minimise the risk:
- Continue treatment for a week or two beyond the point that you think it has cleared up
- Wash and dry your feet twice a day and always after running
- Don’t sit for hours in socks and trainers after your run, get them off and wash your feet
- Alternate two pairs of running shoes so they have time to properly dry out between uses. It doesn’t have to have rained for them to get damp
- Always wear clean running socks
- When you aren’t running wear leather shoes as they’re more breathable, or go bare foot
- Wash your towels frequently and consider a separate one for your feet
- Sprinkle some athlete’s foot powder in your trainers and socks
- Wear flip flops in communal spaces and avoid being bare foot in communal spaces.
Remember, if your skin condition isn’t clearing up, if you’re getting recurrent infections or you have diabetes or a medical condition that weakens your immune system then see your GP.
There’s more about athlete’s foot, skin conditions that affect runners and lots more in my book Run Well: Essential health questions and answers for runners. Published by Bloomsbury and available to buy now anywhere you buy your books.
Featured image StockSnap from Pixabay
